Helicopter military
Bell OH-58 Kiowa
The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support.
- Role: Observation/scout helicopter
- National origin: United States of America
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- First flight: Bell 206A: 10 January 1966, OH-58D: 6 October 1983, OH-58F: 26 April 2013
- Introduction: 1969
- Status: In service
- Produced: 1966–1989
- Number built: 2,200
- Developed from: Bell 206
Military operators
- Austrian Armed Forces
- Republic of China Army
- Dominican Air Force
- Royal Saudi Land Forces
- Turkish Army
- United States Army
Former operators
- Australian Army
- Canadian Forces
Specifications
OH-58A
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot, 2 pilots, or 1 pilot and 1 observer
- Length: 32 ft 2 in (9.80 m)
- Rotor diameter: 35 ft 4 in (10.77 m)
- Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
- Empty weight: 1,583 lb (718 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 3,000 lb (1,360 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Allison T63-A-700 turboshaft, 317 shp (236 kW)
- Fuselage length: 34 ft 4.5 in (10.48 m)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 120 knots (222 km/h, 138 mph)
- Cruise speed: 102 knots (188 km/h, 117 mph)
- Range: 299 mi (481 km, 260 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
Armament
- Guns: M134 six-barreled 7.62mm minigun mounted on the M27 Armament Subsystem
OR
M129 grenade launcher mounted on the XM8 Armament Subsystem
OH-58D
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)
- Main rotor diameter: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
- Height: 12 ft 105⁄8 in (3.93 m)
- Main rotor area: 14.83 ft2 (1.38 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,829 lb (1,737 kg)
- Gross weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A or 250-C30R3 turboshaft, 650 hp (485 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 149 mph (240 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 127 mph (204 km/h)
- Range: 161 miles (556 km)
- Endurance: 2.0 hours
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,575 m)
Armament
- Each pylon (two total) can carry one of the following:
- 1x M3P (or M296) .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine gun
- 1x LAU-68 rocket launcher w/ seven 2.75″ Hydra 70 rockets
- 2x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles
OH-58F
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Empty weight: 3,496 lb (1,586 kg)
- Gross weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce 250-C30R3 turboshaft, 650 hp (485 kW) each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 109 (with weapons) mph (176 km/h)
- Range: 161 miles (260 km)
- Endurance: 2.0 hours
Armament
- Each pylon (two total) can carry one of the following:
- 1x M3P .50 cal (12.7mm) machine gun
- 1x M260 rocket launcher w/ seven 2.75″ Hydra 70 rockets
- 2x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles
- 2x JAGM (Joint Air-to-Ground Missile)
Eurocopter EC120 Colibri
The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) EC120 Colibri (English: hummingbird) is a 5-seat, single-engine, single main rotor, light helicopter. Jointly designed and developed by Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Harbin Aviation Industries (Group) Ltd (HAIG) and Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (STAero) at Eurocopter France’s Marignane facility, the EC120 B is assembled by Eurocopter in France and Australia.
- Role: Light utility helicopter
- National origin: France, China, Singapore
- Manufacturer: Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters, Harbin Aircraft Industry Group
- First flight: 9 June 1995
- Introduction: 1998
- Status: In service
- Produced: 1995-present
- Number built: over 550
Military operators
- People’s Liberation Army Air Force (China)
- Hélidax (Army Aviation Training) (France)
- Indonesian Air Force
- Indonesian Navy
- Republic of Singapore Air Force
- Spanish Air Force
Specifications (EC120 B)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
- Capacity: 4 passengers
- Length: 9.6 m (31 ft 5 in)
- Rotor diameter: 10.0 m (32 ft 8 in)
- Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
- Empty weight: 991 kg (2,185 lb)
- Useful load: 724 kg (1,596 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 1,715 kg (3,781 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft, 376 kW (504 shp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 278 km/h (150 knots, 172 mph)
- Cruise speed: 223 km/h (120 knots, 138 mph)
- Range: 710 km (383 nm, 440 mi)
- Service ceiling: 5,182 m (17,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.84 m/s (1,150 ft/min)
Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.
Eurocopter Tiger
The Eurocopter Tiger is a four-bladed, twin-engined attack helicopter which first entered service in 2003. It is manufactured by Eurocopter, which designate it as the EC 665. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.
- Role: Attack helicopter
- National origin: France/Germany/Spain
- Manufacturer: Eurocopter, now Airbus Helicopters
- First flight: 27 April 1991
- Introduction: 2003
- Status: Active
- Produced: 1991–present
- Number built: 206 planned as of 2013
Military Operators
- Australian Army
- French Army
- German Army
- Spanish Army
Specifications (Tiger HAP)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two: pilot and weapon systems officer
- Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)
- Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
- Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
- Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
- Loaded weight: 5,090 kg (11,311 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb))
- Powerplant: 2 × MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 958 kW (1.303 shp) each
- Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 290 km/h with mast, 315 km/h without mast (157 knots, 181 mph with mast, 170 knots or 196 mph without mast)
- Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) combat (with external tanks in the inboard stations: 1,300km)
- Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
- Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.38 kw/kg)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret, with up to 450 rounds.
On each of its two inner hardpoints and two outer hardpoints the Eurocopter Tiger can carry a combination of the following weapons:
- Inner hardpoints:
- 1x 20 mm (0.787 in) autocannon pods, or
- 22x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod, or
- 19x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod or
- 4x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (Australia/France) or
- 4x Spike-ER missiles (Spain) or
- 4x PARS 3 LR missiles (Germany) or
- 4x HOT3 missiles (Germany)
- Outer hardpoints:
- 2x Mistral air-to-air missiles, or
- 12x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod or
- 7x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod
Aérospatiale Alouette II
The Alouette II was the first production helicopter to use a gas turbine engine instead of the conventional heavier piston powerplant.
- Role: Light helicopter
- National origin: France
- Manufacturer: Sud Aviation / Aérospatiale
- First flight: 12 March 1955
- Introduction: 2 May 1957
- Status: Limited Service
- Produced: 1956-1975
- Number built: 1,300+
- Variants: Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama
- Developed into: Aérospatiale Alouette III
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: Four passengers
- Length: 9.66 m (31 ft 9 in)
- Rotor diameter: 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in)
- Disc area: 81.7 m² (881.4 ft²)
- Empty weight: 895 kg (1,973 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 1,600 kg (3,527 lb)
- Powerplant: One × Turboméca Artouste IIC6 turboshaft, 395 kW (530 hp) derated to 269 kW (460 hp) each.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 km/h (100 knots, 115 mph) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106 mph)
- Range: 565 km (305 nmi, 350 mi)
- Endurance: 4.1 hours
- Service ceiling: 2,300 m (7,545 ft)
- Rate of climb: 4.2 m/s (820 ft/min)
Aérospatiale Alouette III
- Role: Light utility helicopter
- National origin: France
- Manufacturer: Sud Aviation, Aérospatiale
- First flight: 28 February 1959
- Introduction: 1960
- Status: Active
- Produced: 1961-1985
- Number built: 2,000+
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 5 passengers
- Length: 10.03 m (32 ft 10¾ in)
- Main rotor diameter: 11.02 m (36 ft 1¾ in)
- Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
- Main rotor area: 95.38 m2 (1026 ft2)
- Empty weight: 1,143 kg (2,520 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, 649 kW (870 shp) derated to 425 kW (570 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
- Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Range: 540 km (335 miles)
- Service ceiling: 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
- Rate of climb: 4.3 m/s (850 ft/min)